Gold-washing machine



Dec. 25, 1923.

1,478,761 G. E. c. ROUSSEAU GOLD WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1922 12 if v June/"$01;

attozweag Patented Dec. 25, 192 3.

UNITED STATES cannon n c.

BOUSSEAU, OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 'IO ROUSSEA'U GOLD WASHING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION.

GOLD-WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed December 4, 1922. Serial No. 604,821.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gnonon E. C. Rous- SEAU, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sacramento, in the county of Sacramento, State of. California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gold- Washing Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines for recovering precious metals, and particularly to machines for washing and recovering gold from the pulp of stamp mills, or from gravel or placer mines.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this character wherein the heavier precious metal, such as gold, will be precipitated and conveyed out of the machine, and the lighter foreign substances carried out from another portion of the machine.

Another object is to provide a .device of this character wherein a counter current of water is caused to flow in the opposite direction to that taken by the pulp and gold particles, whereby the soil, and other lighter materials, will be forced to the surface and thus prevented from being discharged with the gold particles.

A further object is to provide a machine of this character wherein the centrifugal means is given a vertically reciprocating movement which serves to keep the material fed into the machine, in constant motion.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the acompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

lhe figure is a vertical longitudinal central sectional i lew through a gold washing machine made in accordance with the present invention.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing, there is shown a frame including the top and bottom members 10 and 11, and the sides 12, the said top member being provided with a central opening 13, to which reference will be made later herein.

Mounted on the upper face of the bottom 11 are the transverse parallel, and inverted,

channel members 14;, and bolted to said channel members is the base.15 of the vertical hollow casting l6. The-upper end of the casting 16 is open and has its mouth flared outwardly, as shown at 17, within which is seated, and riveted, the inverted truncatedcone-shaped member 18. Extending upwardly from the bottom or base 15 is a bearlng boss 19 in which is received the lower end of the vertical shaft 20, which shaft extends upwardly and centrally of the frame, and through the before-mentioned opening 13. A suitable packing 21 is disposed around the lower end of the shaft 20, above the boss 19, and a retaining cap 22 engaged thereon. In one side of the boss 19 there is formed an opening 19, leadin into the cavity within the boss. In one si e of the upper portion of the casting 16 there is formed an opening 23 within which is secured the inlet pipe 2 1 having the controlling valve 25 therein.

Secured to the upper edge of the member 18, and extending there-around,is a trough or gutter 26, the lower side of which is connected with a discharge pipe 27, having a controlling valve 28 therein, It will be noted that the outer surrounding wall of the trough 23 is considerably higher than the inner side, and secured to the said higher wall, and extending upwardly therefrom, is a second truncated cone-shaped wall 29. Joined to the upper edge of this wall 29 is a trough or gutter 30, of similar construction to the trough 26, the same discharging through one side of the machine by means of the chute 31. The outer wall of this last-named trough 30 is considerably higher than the inner wall as clearly seen in the drawin Secured to the lower portion of the shaft 20, within the member 18, is an inverted cone-shaped block 32, and secured to this block is the lower end of the inverted cone 33, the upper end of which extends beyond the upper end of the wall 29. Secured to the upper end of the cone 33, and extending thereacross, is horizontally disposed the spoked member 34:, the same having a hub portion 35 which is secured to the shaft 20, as shown. Angle brackets 36 are secured to the outer face of the upper end of the cone 33, and mounted on the horizontal wings thereof is an outwardly extending horizontal flat ring of wire screen 37, the peripheral edge of which partly overlies the upper trough 30. Encircling the shaft 20 is a conical member 41 which has the outwardly directed horizontal flan e 57, on its lower end resting on and secure to the angle brackets 58 which are secured to the cone 33, on the inner face thereof, and directly opposite the brackets or angle members 36. It will be noted that this flange 58 lies in the same plane and inwardly of the screen ring 37. This screen is adapted to permit the heavier gold particles to pass therethrough, while the lighter inaterials float thereover and pass into the trough 30.

Secured to the shaft 20, above the wheel member 34, is a collar 38, and secured to and radiating therefrom are the arms 39 to the outer ends of which is secured t6 hopper 40, said hopper having its bottom formed with a horizontal flange 42, which overlies the flange 57 and the screen ring 37, and extends a short distance therebeyond the latter. Vertical braces 43 space the flanges 42 and 57 apart to permit material to flow outwardly therebetween.

0n the top member 10 of the frame, there is mounted a hraclret 44 having an upper central bearing through which the shaft 20 extends. A. horizontal belt wheel 46 has its hub 47 disposed within the said bearing 45, and said hub is splined on the shaft 20. as shown at 48, a nut 49 being engaged on the lower end of the hub, and against the lower end of the bearing to permit the shaft 20 to slide vertically therethrough while at the same time permitting the hub to rotate, only,

within said bearing. Secured to the shaft 20, below the hub 47, is a hub 50 having the radiating spokes 51, to the outer ends of which is secured the rim 52. Mounted on the upper member 10, of the main frame, is a ring 53, the upper face of which is formed with a series of ratchet notches 54, within which are adapted to roll the tapered rollers 55, the inner ends of said rollers being con nected with a ring 56. The upper rim 52 rests on the upper portions of the rollers 55, and as the shaft 20 turns, carrying the rim 52 with it, the rollers are caused to ride up the inclined faces of the notches 54, and to drop into the next adjacent notches, with the result that the cone 33, together with the hopper, and all parts connected therewith, will be reciprocated, anda jarring action produced to cause the material to be shaken from the hopper and the substances of the pulp, and other materials from which the gold is to be separated, properly treated. The gold particles which fall through the screen slide down the inner face of the member 29 and into the trough 26, from. whence they escape through the pipe 27. T he lighter particles of foreign matter, such as the crushed quartz, soil, and the like, float ofi' on the water, into the gutter or trough 30, and out by means of the chute 31.

To prevent the crushed stone, soil, and the like .foreign substances from getting between the members 29 and 33, and falling with the gold into the trough 26, a counter stream of water is discharged inwardly through the pipe 24, which Water passes upwardly between said members, and out through the chute 31. The gold particles being heavier than any of the other substances, will fall by gravity, through the upwardly flowing stream of water, so that the proper precipitation of the gold particles will not be interfered with.

It will, of course, be understood that the pulp, containing the gold particles, and Water, are discharged into the hopper 40, and the proper separation produced at the screen 37. Thus the gold particles will be extracted, and discharged from the machine with practically no foreign matter, which would require further extensive washing or separation.

It will be further noted that by the rotation of the shaft 20, together with its connected parts, a centrifugal action will be produced to throw the heavier gold particles out on the screen, through which they fall by gravity, while at the same time the action of the rollers 55, on the walls of the notches 54, produce an up and down motion to the shaft and its parts to cause a jarring action, resulting in the pro er precipitation of the gold. Also, the rol ers 55, supporting the shaft and its parts, serves to reduce friction to a minimum, thus causing the machine to run smoothly.

As the shaft 20 rises, water will flow through the opening 19' into the boss, so that when the shaft descends, the water will form a cushion to absorb the jar or shock, because of the slow exhaust of the water through the opening 19'.

What is claimed is:

1. A gold washing machine including a centrifugal separating mechanism, means for reciprocating the mechanism, means for delivering foreign matter from the machine, means for discharging the gold mm the machine, and means for delivering a current of water against the normal discharging flow of the gold to prevent escape of foreign matter with the gold.

2. A gold washing machine including a. centrifugal mechanism consisting of a rotatable container, pockets for receiving the gold and the foreign matter respectively, means for reciprocating the centrifugal mechanism simultaneously with the rotation thereof, a cushion means for the reciprocating means, and means for discharging a counter current of fluid against the outward flow of the gold.

3. A gold washing machine comprising a frame, a vertical shaft in the frame, a cantrifugal separator associated with the shaft, means for reciprocating the shaft, a bearing for one end of the shaft including a dashpot, means for conveying gold from the machine, and means for discharging a current of water in a direction opposite to the outflow of the gold to revent escape of foreign matter with the go (1.

4. A gold washing machine including a rotatable shaft, a centrifugal separating mechanism, associated with the shaft and including a hopper, spaced concentric containers between which gold is discharged, a screen mounted over the space between the containers, a foreign matter receiving pocket at the up er end of the outer container, a gold receiving pocket at the lower end of the outer container, and means for discharging a counter flow of water upwardly between the containers to prevent escape of foreign matter with the old.

5. A gold was ing machine including a rotatable shaft, means for reciprocatin the shaft, and a box receiving one end 0% the shaft and containing a cushioning fluid against which the shaft end bears, said box having an opening to permit the gradual ingross and egress of the cushioning fluid.

I te timony whereof, I afiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE E. C. ROUSSEAU.

Witnesses H. S. GILMORE,

Cans. L. Gmuoms. 

